DEPARTMENT 



ARTS AND MANUFACTURES. 



REPORT 



Of the committee on Cotton, Woolen, Silk and Linen 

 Manufactures. 



The exhibition of the above articles this yesr is highly creditable 

 to the country. The goods are generally cheaper, better finished, 

 and of greater variety of style and fabric than usual. The manu- 

 facturers have more than paid for the protection accorded to them 

 by the government. Many new arts and inventions are introduced 

 for home use; and there is progress and improvement, as well as 

 economy in making, so that many goods are now cheaper than they 

 hc.ve ever been in this country. 



This is the universal verdict, not only of the judges appointed im- 

 partially by the Institute, vi^ho have patiently and faithfully dis- 

 charged their onerous duties; but of the thousands of citizens who, 

 in the well lighted saloon of Castle Garden have had an excellent op- 

 portunity of examining the goods ibr themselves. 



It seems scarcely possible to doubt the propriety of giving encou- 

 ragement to occupations producing results for the benefit of the 

 whole commonwealth, such as were here exhibited. Our manufactu- 

 ring interests, under the influence of diligent and sagacious perseve- 

 rance, free emulation among ourselves, and protection of our home 

 labor against the combined operatio7is of foreign pauperism and over- 

 reaching capitalists; now exhibit the thrift and progress which were 

 predicted for them under a wise and discriminating protective poli- 

 cy. If not uprooted by hostile legislation in favor of foreign inte- 



